Chronicles of Celestial Origins

Tang Ning said: "In that case, tomorrow I will go with you to visit some fellow Taoists of the Cao family and see what they have to say? The disciples from the sect who collect supplies will be here soon. If they can't collect all the supplies now, we will It will take a lot of time.”

Zhu Tao said: "With Senior Brother Tang and others helping us, I think the Cao family would not dare to disobey."

After chatting for a while, Tang Ning and others left the hall, and Zhu Tao arranged a room for them to stay in.

At midnight the next day, a disciple came outside Tang Ning's room and said, "Master Tang, Master Zhu, please come to the hall and have a chat."

Tang Ning left the room and came to the main hall. Zhu Tao, Chen Da and others were all here, waiting for him.

"Senior Brother Tang, how about we go to Cao's house now?" Zhu Tao said

Tang Ning nodded and said hello, and the group left the Taoist temple and headed south. After walking for half a day, they came to a mountain range stretching for hundreds of miles.

Zhu Tao pointed to the place shrouded in clouds and mist below and said: "This is Yuyue Mountain, and the lower part is where the Cao family's mansion is. Let's go down!"

The group of people passed through the thick clouds and mist, and the light fell in front of a palace below. On both sides, there were rows of tall palaces and palaces, at least sixty or seventy rooms.

A man came with a sword. He had seen a few people, and his face changed slightly. His expression was solemn and a little uneasy. He bowed to Zhu Tao and said, "Senior Zhu, what do you want me to do when you come to my house?"

Zhu Tao said: "Go and tell your family master that Zhu is here to visit."

The man glanced at the people behind him and asked, "I wonder who these seniors are?"

"These are all my fellow disciples. I have heard of Taoist friend Cao Ruixian's name for a long time. They came to Beiyuan this time to ask for a meeting."

"Seniors, please wait a moment and allow me to call the head of the family." The man said, walking less than two miles with his sword, he came to a majestic and tall palace.

In the hall, a man with gray hair on his temples and a tiger body and a wolf waist sat cross-legged in the middle. It was Cao Ruixian, the head of the Cao family. He opened his eyes and saw the man hurriedly and anxiously, and asked with displeasure on his face: "What's the matter?"

"Master, there are several Qianyi Sect monks coming from outside, saying they are here to visit you. It seems that the people who come here are not good-natured." The man saluted.

Cao Ruixian frowned slightly: "How many people are there?"

The man replied: "There are six people in total. Except for Zhu Tao, the leader of Beiyuan, I have never seen the other five people, and the cultivation level of these five people is above them."

Cao Ruixian was silent for a long time: "Go quickly and invite Yuan Yi, Zhong Yun, and Wentong."

"Yes." The man took the order and left.

Tang Ning and others waited outside for about a stick of incense, but no one from the Cao family came back.

Chen Da frowned and said: "This Cao family is too arrogant. They just leave us here and don't take our sect seriously."

Tang Ning was also very unhappy. She and others had come all the way, so she was being polite. No matter what, they should meet each other!

Even if we don’t meet, at least someone should come and let us know! There is no hospitality at all, this shows that you don’t take yourself seriously at all!

After waiting for a while, he finally saw the man who had just left returning with his sword. He bowed his head and said, "Master, please invite some seniors to come in."

Several people followed him to a majestic hall, where four people were sitting.

The man with gray hair on the main seat saw a few people entering and stood up to greet them. Others also stood up. Cao Ruixian said: "Fellow Daoist Zhu, I haven't seen you for a long time. I am sorry to welcome you from afar."

Before Zhu Tao answered, Chen Da on the side couldn't help but said coldly: "The Cao family is so arrogant! I came all the way to visit fellow Taoists, but I waited outside your mansion for a quarter of an hour. Only then can you see your face.”

Cao Ruixian said without changing his expression: "I have really neglected several fellow Taoists. Previously, several brothers in our government were discussing matters here and ordered no one to disturb them. Therefore, the juniors did not dare to inform them. Cao hereby apologizes to these fellow Taoists. , Wang Haihan.”

When he said this, the resentment among several people was relieved.

Zhu Tao said: "Fellow Taoist Cao, these are all senior brothers of our sect. They were ordered by the sect to come to Beiyuan to perform tasks. Because they have admired the name of Taoist for a long time, they came with me to visit Taoist."

"Please take a seat quickly."

Several people took their seats one after another.

Cao Ruixian said: "Do you know the names of your Taoist friends?"

"Tang Ning, these are our sect's Junior Brother Chen Da, Junior Brother Jin Shan, Junior Brother Yang Xian, and Junior Brother Yan Yunlong." Tang Ning introduced them one by one.

Cao Ruixian said: "Fellow Tang Taoist Master Chunqiu Shangfu is already a monk in the late stage of foundation building. It makes Cao ashamed! Your sect is really a hidden dragon and a crouching tiger."

Zhu Tao said: "Fellow Taoist Cao, we enlightened people don't tell secrets. I came to your mansion this time just for the taxes I paid. Yesterday I heard from the disciple who reported that your mansion is not ready yet. What's going on? Son?"

Cao Ruixian sighed: "Fellow Daoist Zhu, it's not that I shirk this matter, but that my Cao family is really in trouble!"

Zhu Tao said: "I would like to hear the details."

"In recent years, the Demon Sect has occupied the northwest of Beiyuan, which is adjacent to my family's jurisdiction. Many properties have been occupied by them. The Xue family in the northwest has always had a rift with me. After he defected to the Demon Sect, Relying on his power, he harassed my family's property from time to time and took away the materials from my property. We have suffered heavy losses and we really can't produce the quantity required by your clan. I hope Fellow Daoist Zhu will understand. "

Before Zhu Tao could answer, Tang Ning said, "Isn't that what Fellow Daoist Cao said? As far as I know, all the important figures of all the cultivating families who have taken refuge in the Demon Sect are hiding in the Demon Sect's camp in Wancong Mountain, leaving only a few disciples to take care of it. With their limited manpower, they dare to invade your land and property?”

"Furthermore, the sect collects taxes in proportion. Even if there is a reduction in production, it must be paid in proportion. Now that it is time to suppress taxes, the Cao family says they are not ready yet. Isn't it a bit unreasonable?"

Cao Ruixian said: "Fellow Taoist Tang only knows one, but not the other. Although the head of the Xue family is hiding in Wancong Mountain, the Demon Sect sends out men to plunder from time to time. All the taxes and storage warehouses we were prepared to hand over were plundered by them. ”

Tang Ning smiled: "I work in the Intelligence Department, and I often see reports from subordinate intelligence stations that families from all over the country are attracted to the Demon Sect and are secretly communicating with each other. They have been dissatisfied with the Sect for a long time. Once given the opportunity, they will turn against each other. Change the banner."

"Originally, I thought the people below were exaggerating, but now it seems that this situation is common."

Cao Ruixian's expression changed slightly: "Fellow Taoist Tang, my Cao family has always been loyal to your sect. There are also many children in my family serving in your sect. I..."

Tangning interrupted him with a tone of voice and said, "Since you are so loyal, why are you using so many excuses to delay tax collection? Is it possible that fellow Taoists don't know the laws of this sect? Or do you think that now that the Demon Sect is rampant, this sect is helpless against your powerful clan?"

"The sect has clear rules and regulations that all families under its jurisdiction must pay taxes and tribute on time. What are your intentions in evading it over and over again?"

"The reason why I came here this time is to escort the tax tribute materials from various places to prevent them from being robbed by the Demon Sect."

"If someone deliberately delays tax collection, delays time, buys time for the Demon Sect to arrange their troops, and ambushes my escort team on the way, then I will think that this person is colluding with the Demon Sect. Don't blame Tang Mou for not making it clear in advance. "

"Whether you want to pay taxes and tribute according to the sect's regulations, or change your flag and collude with the Demon Sect, please do as you please! Take your leave."

After Tang Ning finished speaking, he walked away without waiting for Cao Ruixian to speak. The others followed him and filed out, disappearing into the distance, leaving only the Cao family in the palace looking at each other.

…………

"Senior Brother Tang, the righteous words you just said are really majestic and show off the majesty of our sect. If you were to take charge of me, those powerful clans would not dare to be so presumptuous." Zhu Tao said

Tang Ning said: "To deal with these local snakes, the more you give them a good look, the more they push forward. You have to give them a little encouragement from time to time. Only by combining kindness and power can you suppress them."

Jin Ye frowned and said, "Senior Brother Tang's words just now are very threatening. Could it be that the pressure is too much? If they are in danger, what should they do if they really surrender to the Demon Sect?"

Tang Ning said: "Junior Brother Wu, do you think they don't want to defect to the Demon Sect? But the situation is overwhelming. Their power is within our jurisdiction. If they defect to the Demon Sect, what will happen to these industries? If they lose these things, what will they do?" I expect that within a few days, they will send someone to report and pay the tribute."

It was already late at night when they returned to the Taoist temple, so they all went back to their rooms to rest.

As Tang Ning expected, only three days later, the Cao family sent someone to say that the taxes and tributes to be handed over were ready and were just waiting for the disciples of the sect to receive them.

After the Cao family bowed their heads, other powerful families also expressed that they had paid all their taxes and tributes.

After another seven or eight days, two escaping lights arrived, revealing the figures of a man and a woman.

Behind him were dozens of disciples, driving a boxy black car. The car was very strange. There were eight stone wheels under its feet, which were constantly turning, and it was walking in mid-air as if walking on flat ground.

The disciples in the Taoist temple came to meet them, and after saluting, they were invited into the main hall.

Tang Ning was sitting cross-legged in the room. There was a knock on the door. He opened his eyes and waved his hand. The door opened without any wind. A man walked into the room, bowed and said, "Uncle Tang, Uncle Zhu, please come to the hall. Zong." The disciples from the sect who collect taxes and tribute have arrived."

Tangning responded, stood up, left the room, and came to the main hall.

In the hall, in addition to Zhu Tao, Chen Da and others, there were two foundation-building monks, a man and a woman, dressed in Qian Yizong costumes.

"Senior Brother Tang, these two are the disciples of the sect who collect taxes and tributes. This is Junior Brother Zhou Yan of the External Relations Section of the Foreign Affairs Council, and this is Senior Sister Su Yinyun of the External Affairs Department of Yuanyi Palace." Zhu Tao introduced, turning to the two The person said, "This is Senior Brother Tangning from the Intelligence Department."

Zhou Yan said: "Senior Brother Tang, I have long admired my name. Before we left the sect, Uncle Peng had already given instructions. All the transportation of supplies will be under your command."

Tangning asked, "How many disciples have you brought?"

Su Yinyun replied: "Forty-two people in total."

Tangning frowned and said, "There are only forty-two people. Can they transport all the supplies in one trip?"

"No problem. We have a Xuanling vehicle specially used to transport supplies."